Glossary of Terms
This glossary is by no means all-inclusive — it is intended to provide a basic understanding of some of the more commonly used terms in this programme. Each page of this website contains a small "Glossary Terms" box which provides direct links to definitions of terms found on the page. Click on the term to view the definition.
» Terms A to C» Terms D to I
» Terms H to R
» Terms S to Z
| Terms A - C | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Afforestation | Planted forests on land not previously in forest. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Biomass | The total mass of living matter within a given unit of environmental area. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Biophysical | The science that deals with the application of physics to biological processes and phenomena. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Biosphere | The part of the Earth system comprising all ecosystems and living organisms in the atmosphere, on land (terrestrial biosphere), or in the oceans (marine biosphere), including derived dead organic matter such as litter, soil organic matter, and oceanic detritus. | |||||||||||||||||||
Broom |
a. Any
of various Mediterranean shrubs of the genus Cytisus in
the pea family, especially C. scoparius, having mostly
compound leaves with three leaflets and showy, usually bright
yellow flowers. b. Any of several similar or related shrubs, especially in the genera Genista and Spartium. |
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| Canopy | The uppermost layer in a forest, formed by the crowns of the trees. Also called crown canopy. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood and wood products are burned. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Carbon Sinks | Any process, activity or mechanism that results in the net removal of greenhouse gases, aerosols, or precursors of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Carbon Trading | A market in which large emitters of CO2 can offset their emissions by buying carbon credits from another party. Although some individual companies trade carbon there is no well-established international market yet. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Climate | The long-term average weather of a region including typical weather patterns, the frequency and intensity of storms, cold spells, and heat waves. Climate is not the same as weather. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Climate change | Changes in long-term trends in the average climate, such as changes in average temperatures. In IPCC (Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change) usage, climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. In UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) usage, climate change refers to a change in climate that is attributable directly or indirectly to human activity that alters atmospheric composition. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commitment Periods (CP1) | The period over which countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol are legally bound to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The first commitment period (CP1) is from 2008 to 2012. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Terms D - I | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fossil Fuel | A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Global Change | Changes in the environment resulting from both natural changes and impacts of human activites on the world's atmosphere and climate system. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Global Warming | The progressive gradual rise of the Earth's average surface temperature thought to be caused in part by increased concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Global Warming Potential |
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| Gorse | Any of several spiny shrubs of the genus Ulex, especially U. europaeus, native to Europe and having fragrant yellow flowers and black pods. Also called furze, whin. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Greenhouse Gas |
Greenhouse gases trap heat that is normally radiated into space to be reflected back to earth. The major greenhouse gases are: Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide. All these gases occur naturally, but human activities, such as travel, energy consumption, and agriculture increase the amount of these gases in the atmosphere. Other greenhouse gases that do not occur naturally, but are generated in a variety of industrial processes, are halocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. Greenhouse gases differ in their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere-their global warming potential. Methane traps over 21 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide absorbs over 300 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide. |
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| Indigenous | Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Terms H - R | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyoto Protocol |
The Kyoto Protocol is the first legally binding international agreement aimed at slowing, and eventually stopping, global warming. It is an international plan of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One hundred and seventeen countries have signed it. Countries that ratify the Protocol agree to cut back their greenhouse gas emissions to predetermined levels over the period 2008 to 2012 (the first commitment period). They can do this by directly reducing the emissions they produce, buying carbon credits from other countries, or offsetting the emissions they cannot reduce, for example, by planting new forests or increasing areas of scrubland vegetation to increase the amount of carbon dioxide taken from the atmosphere. New Zealand ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002. For further information on the Kyoto Protocol visit the UNFCCC website. |
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| Land-use, Land-use change | Land uses and land-use changes can act either as sinks or as emission sources. It is estimated that approximately one-fifth of global emissions result from land-use activities. The Kyoto Protocol allows Parties to receive emissions credit for certain land-use activities that reduce net emissions. | |||||||||||||||||||
| MAF | MAF - Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry MAF is about agriculture, horticulture and forestry, safe food, a protected environment, the wise use of the land, the creation of clean, green product and the economic success of those who produce it. Visit the MAF website. |
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Manuka |
New Zealand Manuka
- Leptospermum scoparium
A natural nursery for regenerating forest, manuka is a tough and durable tree with many uses: The bark was used by early Maori for making water containers and the inner bark as a water-proof layer for roofing. Straight poles were used for rafters in whare building. They were also made into bird spears and paddles. The flexible seedlings made excellent crayfish traps. Captain Cook had his crew brew manuka leaves to make 'tea' and beer to combat scurvy. Manuka also contains, leptospermone, a compound that acts as an insecticide and it's essential oil is an excellent perfume for soap-making. More recent settlers cut manuka twigs to make brooms, used the bark for dyeing wool (light brown), cut the stems for tool and implement handles and used the sawdust for smoking fish. Manuka honey is prized for its high medicinal content. |
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| Methane (CH4) | Methane is a byproduct of digestion by ruminant animals, and decomposition of organic wastes in wet environments (e.g., swamps, paddy fields). Methane emissions also result from production of coal, natural gas, and oil. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nitrous Oxide (N2O) | Nitrous oxide is emitted from breakdown of animal dung and urine in soil. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Podocarps | Podocarps are seed-producing plants, or gymnosperms, and have evolved a method of reproduction that is much less water-dependent than the pteridophytes. The word podocarp actually means 'foot root', since the part that produces fruit was the stalk, and was supposedly foot-shaped. They are also hardy to drought. | |||||||||||||||||||
| NzOnet | NzOnet is an informal network of scientists from Crown Research Institutes, universities, and industry, who collaborate in research to measure and mitigate the effects of nitrous oxide emissions. Current members of NzOnet are: C. de Klein and S. Ledgard (AgResearch); M. Harvey (NIWA); F. Kelliher, S. Saggar and K. Tate (Landcare Research); S. Thomas (Crop & Food Research); T. Clough and R. Sherlock (Lincoln University); and J. Russell (Dairy Research Institute). | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reforestation | Regrowth of forest on land that was previously forested by indigenous species. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Terms S - Z | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sequestration | Opportunities to remove atmospheric CO2, either through biological processes (e.g. plants and trees), or geological processes through storage of CO2 in underground reservoirs. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sulpher Hexafluoride (SF6) | SF6 is among the six types of greenhouse gases to be curbed under the Kyoto Protocol. SF6 is a synthetic industrial gas largely used in heavy industry to insulate high-voltage equipment and to assist in the manufacturing of cable-cooling systems. There are no natural sources of SF6. SF6 has an atmospheric lifetime of 3,200 years. Its 100-year GWP is currently estimated to be 22,200 times that of CO2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Terrestrial | Pertaining to the land; not aquatic: a terrestrial plant or animal. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trace gas | A term used to refer to gases found in the Earth's atmosphere other than nitrogen, oxygen, argon and water vapor. When this terminology is used, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are classified as trace gases. Although trace gases taken together make up less than one percent of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are important in the climate system. Water vapor also plays an important role in the climate system; its concentrations in the lower atmosphere vary considerably from essentially zero in cold dry air masses to perhaps 4 percent by volume in humid tropical air masses. | |||||||||||||||||||
| UNFCCC | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Visit the UNFCCC website. |
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